On March 17th, 2017, Epidemic Music Group, The Earl of Whitchurch and a massive community of music lovers came together to attempt an 18 day, 24 hour a day concert setting a potential Guinness World Record and raising over $90,000 for 17 charities in the process. The community of Stouffville, ON and beyond came together in Canada’s 150th year to achieve this feat; it was truly a proud Canadian Moment.

There were over 450 consecutive performances by over 1000 musicians over the 18 days. Many of these performances from unsigned, local acts who answered the call to be part of history; something that would ultimately unite the community like no event in recent memory. A core value of Epidemic Music Group has always been to foster a nurturing and sustainable local music scene and the presence of local talent throughout this event was a shining testament to the strength of the community. Acts of all genres came across the stage, from The Ontario Provincial Police Chorus to the versatile and genre-blending Julian Taylor. The entire 18 day event paid homage to the immense talent that resides in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

Before it even began, the momentum behind this event grew rapidly. The story quickly went viral and was covered by Global News, City TV, CTV National, Allan Cross and Edge 102.1, 94.9 The Rock, Indie 88.1, and more. All of this incredible coverage happened organically, before the official media release even went out. Once the Longest Continual Concert had begun outlets from across the country, and overseas, were eager to report on the musical ‘David and Goliath’ feat coming out of a small town in Ontario.

Each day of EMG’s Guinness World Record Attempt was aligned with a different charity partner. Funds and awareness were raised for a diverse cross section of charities every 24 hours, including: Markham-Stouffville Hospital, 360 Kids, North Toronto Cat Rescue, The Canadian Mental Health Association and The Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research. All funds raised from the event, totalling $84,458 benefitted these charities directly and their involvement drew mass awareness within the community and beyond.

The community rallied together as one entity in support of music and charity; taking ownership of the event, proud to be shining a light on Stouffville. Ever-present throughout the event, that spirit of community kept the flame alive and was a cornerstone in the success of the event.

“My family have lived in Stouffville for generations and this event really captured the community feel I remember at the town market every Saturday night when I was a little girl. Stouffville really came together in support of this, and I think we are better for it” – Doreen, lifelong Stouffville Resident

Support from as far as Saskatchewan, in the form of volunteers and audience members, rolled in; each individual; excited to be part of history and desiring to make an impact during the event. Across the country and the globe, thousands of people tuned in to the event via the official livestream which also set a potential Guinness World Record.

Bound to a complex set of regulatory guidelines, the EMG event team, volunteers and musicians navigated the intricacies of the event with professionalism and ease; all the while creating impactful, memorable experiences for all those present. Bolstered by the success of the Longest Continual Concert, EMG is committed to developing and creating community-centric musical events throughout the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. This is only the beginning.

MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) is a progressive, two-site community hospital with leading diagnostic services and clinical programs in acute care medicine and surgery, addictions and mental health and maternal and child rehab/transitional care; all of which are focused on the needs of our rapidly growing communities. Partnering with other specialist providers, the over 450 physicians, 17 midwives, and 1,900 staff of the hospital make it the centre of community care for the almost 400,000 residents of Markham, Stouffville and Uxbridge.

ARTSCAN CIRCLE

ArtsCan Circle is a registered charity dedicated to linking creative artists with Indigenous youth at risk in Canada. Our hope is to encourage self-esteem among Indigenous youth in isolated communities through a cooperative exploration of the arts.

FUNDRAISING BENEFIT 4STEFFI

Steffi G mother of two, works two jobs while voluntarily running York Region Open Mics in Richmond Hill. Recently she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, which has metastasized to her spine and hip bones. She has a tough road ahead and needs financial help to cover extra-ordinary treatment costs and loss of work.

EVERGREEN HOSPICE

Evergreen provides community based support services to individuals and their families in Markham, Stouffville and Thornhill, who are living with life-threatening illness or coping with the death of a loved one.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DURHAM

Durham Habitat builds new homes, rehabs existing homes and repairs older, owner-occupied homes that have fallen into a state of critical disrepair. We work in partnership with homeowners-in-progress, volunteers and the community at large to achieve our mission of strengthening the community by providing low-income families with safe, decent and affordable housing.

Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Durham has helped more than 600 families achieve their housing goals by:

AVYOUTH

Anti-Violence Educational Services is a youth-focused not-for-profit, dedicated to decreasing violence by educating young people in the development of life skills and mindsets that will enable them to cope with the stress of daily living in positive ways, rather than resorting to violent behavior

KELLY SHIRES FOUNDATION

The Snow Run for Fun Trust was established to help women who have been recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. There are many unforeseen expenses you may face, and which your health insurance program may not cover. We provide assistance to women in these situations in order to make their fight with cancer a little less challenging.

NORTH TORONTO CAT RESCUE

Please Help Save North Toronto Cat Rescue

NTCR was established by Donna Cox, whose ambition was to take vulnerable cats off the street and bring them in to a secure environment, where they live in complete safety until they find their permanent home. In 2008 NTCR moved in to its current shelter location, and approximately 160 cats are living at the shelter today, away from the horrors of the street and the harsh lives they previously led. Over the years, more than 2,400 cats have benefited from the services of NTCR and are now living the lives they deserve as part of a loving family. However, the future of the current cats, and others like them who still need to be rescued from the streets, are uncertain due to the planned demolition of the shelter in June 2017 to make way for property development.

Please consider adopting, donating and/or volunteering so that together we can achieve our goals.

UNITED WAY

As the largest non-governmental supporter of social services in the region, we’re dedicated to creating the opportunities people need to improve their lives and build a better future.

Our work is fueled by groundbreaking research and powerful partnerships, which allow us to identify gaps and responsibly mobilize volunteer and financial resources for the most direct impact: effecting positive and lasting change, right here where we all live, work and raise our families.

CMHA

Founded in 1918, CMHA is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. With more than 10,000 staff and volunteers in more than 100 community locations across Canada, CMHA providesvital services and support to well over half a million Canadians every year. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA helps people access the community-based resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness in their own communities. As a nation-wide, voluntary organization, the Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. The CMHA accomplishes this mission through advocacy, education, research and service.

360 KIDS

360°kids has been providing support services to at-risk and homeless youth in York Region for the past 27 years. Our primary focus is providing aid and support to at-risk and homeless youth. 360°kids is a one-stop agency where young people at-risk can access safe, supportive housing for the day, the night or as long as a year. We offer a full range of support services —clothing and food, personal support, outreach, counselling, life skills training, education upgrading and job searching—designed to help youth get back on their feet. 360°kids’ mission is to help isolated and vulnerable children, youth and families in our community, to overcome adversity and crisis and to move to a state of safety, stability and well-being.

FAMILY NAVIGATION PROJECT

Developed by families for families, the Family Navigation Project seeks to engage with, inform, advocate and provide connections for, support, and empower the families of youth with serious mental health and addictions problems so that the youth and families receive the help they need at the right time, in the right place and from the right people.

GORD DOWNIE FUND FOR BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH

Donations to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research will give Sunnybrook the tools to help beat brain cancers that are currently unbeatable. Right now we’re investigating new drugs, surgical techniques and genetic therapies. We’re using ultrasound to help drugs reach tumors that couldn’t be reached before. Your support will help us conduct groundbreaking research that benefits patients not only at Sunnybrook, but across Canada and around the world.

SICKKIDS FOUNDATION

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is a hospital dedicated to improving the health of children. Our mission is to provide the best in family-centred, compassionate care, to lead in scientific and clinical advancement, and to prepare the next generation of leaders in child health.

Our vision is simple: Healthier Children. A Better World. We believe fighting for the health and well being of children is one of the most powerful ways to improve society.

HOCKEY WITH HEART

Established in 2007, Hockey with Heart is a community-in-needs based charity that serves as the compassionate arm of the Unionville Men’s Hockey Club.

With a mandate of giving back to the community, Hockey With Heart provides various levels of benevolence to the community through initiatives such as our annual Christmas Food Drive and funding support for a number of local causes such as the Markham Food Bank, The B-Strong Foundation, Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, Hockey Helps the Homeless, 360 Kids and countless other local causes that have needed a helping hand at one time or another.